The residential rates increase 7.89 percent annually in years 2-4 and 3.49 percent afterward for the foreseeable future, according to the plan.

Among objections, the Water Works Board maintains that the county's plan fails to detail the impact the rate increases on customers and also fails to addresses future sewer system capital needs.

All of those factors have a direct impact on the Water Works, officials argued in their filing.

"In light of the tremendous capital spending requirements placed on Jefferson County in the past by the regulatory requirements and the fact that four of nine basins still have not been terminated from the consent decree, the disclosure statement fails to provide in the financial plan...assumptions of the amount of future capital spending dedicating to meeting regulatory requirements or justification for the adequacy of this assumption," according to a draft of the filing obtained by AL.com/The Birmingham News. "The disclosure statement fails to present in the financial plan...information on historical or current nonpayment of sewer bills and the impact such nonpayment has on cash flow."

Water Board officials declined to comment this afterooon with Chairman Jackie Robinson saying it is the general policy to refrain from speaking about any legal matters.

The Water Works maintains it has standing in the case as the company responsible for billing and shutting off of 113,000 joint water and sewer customers.

The utility by state legislation is contracted to collect county sewer payments and send crews to disconnect water service if sewer bills go unpaid.

"As such, the board has a vested interest in the long term viability and maintenance of the county's sewer system in order to ensure that it operates sufficiently so as not to negatively impact the board business operations," the board wrote in its filing.

Board member Ann Florie was the lone no vote.

A majority of the Water Works Board agreed to the filing days after a two lengthy closed-door executive sessions today and during a Friday retreat.

On Friday, the room was filled with lawyers from Waldrep, Stewart & Kendrick, who represent the board, and consultants including Jim White of Porter, White & Company as the board discussed a possible objection to the county's plan.

"The extremely high yields required to sell the new sewer warrants indicates a high residual financial risk ..." the documents reads. "The disclosure statement fails to discuss whether this financial condition will limit the system's ability to meet its regulatory obligations and will pose a risk of re-entry into bankruptcy and whether a sewer system operating in such a condition will discourage economic development in its service area."